Discipleship Ladder #2 (Knowledge)

2 Peter 1:3 – 11

Discipleship Ladder #2 (Knowledge)

³ His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to^[c] his own glory and excellence,^{[d] 4} by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. ⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue,^[e] and virtue with knowledge, ⁶ and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, ⁷ and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. ⁸ For if these qualities^[f] are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. ¹⁰ Therefore, brothers,^[g] be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. ¹¹ For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 (“knowledge” 161x in 158 verses ESV)

“Knowledge”

1. acquaintance with facts, truths, or principles, as from study or investigation; general erudition:

2. familiarity or conversance, as with a particular subject or branch of learning:

3. acquaintance or familiarity gained by sight, experience, or report: [dictionary.com]

Knowledge as a negative:

                1. It may be an opportunity to sin.

Gen_2:17  but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."

                2. It is may become a burden. 

Ecc_1:18  For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

                3. It is may spin us around.

Isa_47:10  You felt secure in your wickedness, you said, "No one sees me"; your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray, and you said in your heart, "I am, and there is no one besides me."

                4. It is may destroy us.

1Co_8:1  Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." This "knowledge" puffs up, but love builds up.

1Co_8:11  And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died.

                5. It is may be the occasion for arguments.

1Ti_6:20  O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called "knowledge,"

                6. It is spiritual warfare.

2Co_10:5  We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

               

The dangers of the lack of knowledge:

                1. God takes it personally.

Job_38:2  "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

                2. It exposes our true heart.

Pro_1:22  "How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

Pro_1:29  Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD,

                3. It makes us impatient.

Pro_19:2  Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.

                4. It destroys us.

Hos_4:6  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

                5. It sends people to hell.

Luk_11:52  Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering."

What is necessary to acquire knowledge:

                1. The healthy fear of the LORD.

Pro_1:7  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

                2. Deliberate consistency.

Pro_19:27  Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

Pro_23:12  Apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge.

                3. God’s will.

Dan_2:21  He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;

                4. By asking.

2Ch_1:10  Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?"

Where do we get knowledge:

                1. Through Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

Isa_11:2  And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

                2. Through Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

Psa_19:2  Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.

                3a. Through the Pastor.

Jer_3:15  "'And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.

                3b. Through the Pastor.

Mal_2:7  For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

                4. Together as a church.

Col_2:2 – 3  that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, [3]  in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Why is Peter so concerned?

For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. [2 Peter 2:20 – 21]

2 Timothy 2:14 – 16 “How to use the Bible correctly”

2 Timothy 2:14 – 16     “How to use the Bible correctly”

I.          What does it say?

            A.         There is a duty to us regarding the Bible.

                        1.         We must “correctly handle the word of truth.”

                                    a.         This is important because something is at stake.

                                    b.         We will see this when we expand the context (unit of thought).

                        2.         This duty is enforced by a test.

                                    a.         Paul tells Timothy, “as one approved.”

                                    b.         The image is one who has passed a test… become competent.

            B.         The is a duty toward others.

                        1.         Context: (larger unity of thought)… Is the reminding and warning of God’s                                     people.

                                    a.         AGAINST quarreling about words [v 14]

                                    b.         AVOID godless chatter [v 16]

                        2.         Why is this important?

                                    a.         Avoid what is of no value (saves time).

                                    b.         Avoid what ruins us (saves the soul).

                                    c.         Avoid becoming more and more ungodly (saves our character and                                                 behavior). (In verse 17 it uses the image of gangrene.)

II.         How do you do this?

            A.         Start with the tools:

                        1.         A clear translation (many fail because the translation they use is difficult                                      for them to read… it’s foggy).

                        2.         Find a concordance… “an alphabetical index of the principal words”                                              [dictionary.com]  Generally found in the back of a Bible.

[Useful alternative: cross references… generally found in the “center column.”  Concordance has short sentence so you can scan it quickly.]

                        3.         Paper and pen (or pencil)… Some has said that a pen is the best set of                                           eyes you have.  [Idea: keep this as a journal… it shows your thought                                               process.]

            B.         Follow the path….

                        1.         Lots of ideas and models available….

                        2.         Here’s how I do this…

III.        I use a three step process: Observe, Interpret, Application

            A.         Observe… Start with one unit (small then expand to larger… CAUTION a unit of thought must not lose focus).

                        1.         Common sense… what does the text say?

                                    a.         Start with the natural reading and understanding of what you are                                                  looking at.

                                    b.         Remember that words find meaning in relationship to others.

[Ill.  Printer, road, glossy, bold, folded…. (Did I just make sense?) Of a Deep Space 9 show where a virus hit the victims’ brain… they spoke words but because the words were out not connected then there was not meaning.]

                                    c.         Context: the relationship of one word to another… sentence…                                                         paragraph.

                        2.         Proficient:

                                    a.         What kind of literature is it?

                                                1.)        2 Timothy is an “Epistle” (letter)… both personal and                                                                       instruction.

                                                2.)        Epistles are straight forward in linear logic… one idea leads                                                           to the next.  (More on types of literature tonight.)

                        3.         Advanced:

                                    a.         Historical context…

                                                1.)        Paul is writing to Timothy a very personal letter on how to                                                              do ministry.  

                                                2.)        The principles are good for all to follow even if you are not                                                                        in the formal ministry.)

                                                3.)        At this point… admit to an underlying belief: “priesthood                                                                 of the believers.” EVERY believer is in ministry (one why or                                                                        another).

                                    b.         Greek….

                                                1.)        “Do your best…” KJV starts with “study” (word picture).                                                                   Literally carries ideas of “hungry” or “diligent” and                                                                                     “obedient.”

[Image of someone who is preparing for something that is very important… getting a driver’s license.]

                                                2.)        “correctly handles” Gr… word picture of cutting straight.

[Image of Paul, who was a tent maker… the straighter the cut of the fabric the less waist, the easier to use, the better the final product is going to look.]

                        4.         Paper and pen observation:

                                    a.         Outline the unit of thought… make the connections.

                                                1.)        Look for repeating words, phrases, or ideas.

                                                2.)        Highlight the “little words.” [I capitalize them]

                                                            a.)        But, even though… PURPOSE

                                                            b.)        As, for, so… CORRELATION

                                                            c.)        To, also, like… COMPARISON

                                                            d.)        So then, therefore… RESULTS

                                                            e.)        Until, now, then… TIIME

                                    b.         Look for a key word (or two… if the passage is longer)

            B.         Interpret (Not that you know what it says, it’s time to understand what it says!)

                        1.         Write out the timeless truth(s) [depending on how long the unit is].

                                    a.         Idea: What is the principle that applies to everyone at all times.

                                    b.         Stick with the obvious.  Keep the “face value.”

                                    c.         Be aware of and honestly admit when you impose another idea                                                     on the text.

                                    d.         FALSE TEACHERS love to use the word “context” to misdirect the                                                   obvious, plain, and simple meaning of the text.  (Almost always                                                      the “context” of the wider message of the Bible will mean a                                                     theological grid…. Key to pick up on this is when the “context”                                                     disagrees with what you are reading…. Or is used to explain away the meaning.)

                        2.         Using the concordance (or cross reference) see if there are other                                                  passages that address the same truth.  RULE: “Scripture interprets                                                 Scripture.”

                                    a.         What we are doing is “connecting the dots.”

                                    b.         Example: we will notice 2 Timothy 3:14 – 17

                                                1.)        Observe the Bible will make us “wise for salvation.”

                                                2.)        Observe the Bible is useful for four things…

                                                3.)        Observe the Bible is used for a final goal “thoroughly                                                                      equipped for every good work.”

“For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” [Ephesians 2:10]

                        3.         How does this connect with Jesus?

                                    a.         Maybe it has something to do with our fallen condition.

                                    b.         Maybe it has something to do with God’s grace

                                    c.         Maybe it has something to do with salvation or justification.

                                    d.         Maybe it has something to do with holiness.

           

            C.         Application… what does God want?

                        1.         Categories of what God may want:

                                    a.         What do I need to believe?

                                    b.         What do I need to see?

                                    c.         What do I need to feel?

                                    d.         What do I need to want?

                                    e.         What do I need to do?

                        2.         Clues in the text:

                                    a.         Pay attention to the verbs!

                                    b.         Adjectives and Adverbs are commentary.

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” [v 15 NIV2011]